Top Boxing Prospect Vargas Cleared to Fight as Amateur

Fernando Vargas of Oxnard, considered one of U.S. boxing’s most promising medal contenders for the 1996 Summer Olympics at Atlanta, has been cleared to compete as an amateur after a contract with two professional managers was rescinded, a USA Boxing spokesman said Monday.

Vargas, 17, was found to have violated rules governing Olympic boxers when his mother and trainer entered him into an agreement with managers Robert Caron and Don Lukens of Oxnard. But according to International Amateur Boxing Assn. rules, the boxer was able to retain his eligibility because he did not participate in an amateur bout until after he had canceled the contract and returned an undisclosed amount of money that he received from Caron and Lukens.

USA Boxing spokesman Kurt Stenerson said Vargas agreed to those conditions before his match Saturday in the World Championships Challenge at Macon, Ga. Vargas lost on points, 16-15, to world light-welterweight champion Hector Vinent of Cuba.

According to the contract with Caron and Lukens, Vargas and his trainer, Eduardo Garcia, were to receive $20,000, plus $4,000 a month leading to the July 19-Aug. 4 Summer Olympics, performance bonuses and training and travel expenses, in return for Vargas’ commitment to sign with the two managers when he turned professional.

Gary Windom of Ventura, an attorney representing Vargas, said Caron and Lukens agreed that his client was not bound by it because he is a minor and was not aware when it was signed by his mother, Alicia Romo, and Garcia that his amateur status would be jeopardized.